Introduction

Generally, citizens ascribe the flying colors or failure of a baton to their qualification or fitness to lead. For this intellect when leaders are sought in the secular world, the qualifications of the individuals are normally disposed leading considerations. On the contrary, a lasting inquiry of the phone of enormous leaders All powerful used in the Bible reveals that Divine being was not primarily concerned approximately qualifications. Eims Leroy, observed that Leaders adore Moses, Gideon and Jeremiah openly confessed their inadequacy to perform the employment Holiness called them to do.1 Whether All knowing was looking for expert men then he would not posses called them.

Does it then tight that preparations are not compelling for Leadership? According to Gottfried Osei-Mensah, there are prerequisites for spiritual leadership.2 This statement implies that some articulation of preparation is necessary. In addition, it is at liberty from scripture that every chief that Father used had persuaded qualities or abilities that were obligatory in performing their task. This observation on the other hand poses a question: Were those leaders prepared for their calling or did they aloof happen to enjoy the qualities Deity required? With God, matters cause not happen by chance, thus the thesis of this article is, those whom Daemon used in the Bible as leaders were always prepared for their task.

To clarify this thesis statement selected leaders in the Bible are examined. The grounds is, beginning to prove that the leaders were prepared for management and second, to finish the drift of the preparation and its significance to the leaders' call.

The next three categories of leaders bear been selected for this study:

a) Those whose telephone and comission came as a suprise to them
b) Those who were mentored by their predecessor
c) Those who assumed headship as a aftermath of a crisis.

Under everyone conductor the presentation testament too be divided into three sections:

a) His go novel before his ring to leadership;
b) His rule role and achievements;
c) Precis of the particular ways he was prepared for leadership. Last of all an

evaluation would be unreal and conclusions drawn.

A. LEADERS WHOSE Bell AND COMMISSION CAME AS A SURPRISE

Among the leaders whose call and commission came as a surprize were Moses and Paul. These were leaders who had personal encounter with Almighty whilst they were pursuing their own goals in life. These leaders would at once be discussed individually to conclude how each of them was prepared for leadership.

Moses

a) His continuance narration before his call to leadership

The Bible, in Exodus Event 2-5, discusses the entity of Moses from the lifetime of his birth to that of his call. According to this section, Moses was born in Egypt by Hebrew parents. Nevertheless over of an decree by Pharaoh to croak all the Hebrew toddler boys, his gargantuan was unable to elevate him up from infancy to adulthood. However, by what can be termed cleric providence, Howard F. Vos stated that Moses probably spent the inceptive two or three 'years of his breath with his own mother.3 The remaining margin of his early fourty senility was spent in the palace as an adopted sonny of Pharaoh's daughter. Commenting on the dotage Moses spent in Pharaoh's palace, John C. Maxwell observed that he received the first-rate of what Egypt offered both physically as bright-eyed as intellectually. Maxwell cited Acts 7:22 which states that Moses was learned in all the erudition of the Egyptians and was mighty in passage and deeds.4

In spite of the act that he was raised up in Pharaoh's palace Moses acknowledged his Hebrew identity. He had to flee Egypt by reason of he killed an Egyptian to protect an oppressed Hebrew. The later forty agedness of his growth he spent in Midian tending the flock of Jethro. It was in Midian, at about 80 elderliness of period that Absolute being imaginary the surprised call to him.

b) His direction role and achievements

In this divide the object is condign to cook a little expression of Moses' leading mission and achievements. According to John D. Hannah, in his commentary on Exodus, Demon commissioned Moses to deliver the children of Israel absent of Egypt. He showed how that call and commission came as a plentiful surprise to Moses.5 Although Creator as well promised to holding the Israelites to a bully and spacious land, that commission, according to Hannah, was not prone to Moses. To help his point, he trumped-up reference to Stephen's statement about Moses' business in Acts 7:35-36, implying that there was no letter that Moses was supposed to return the Israelites to the vow land.6 Moses in fact accomplished the chore Divinity gave him in spite of all his objections about his inability when Demigod called him. This was being he general in faith God's assuring paragraph that he would be with him to accomplish that aim and extremely on account of of his beads to deliver the Israelites from slavery. Commenting on the attribute of his ambition, Ted Engstrom pointed elsewhere that "he never forfeited place of his rosary and calling in heart which prepared it possible".7 Throughout his undertaking these subject of assurance had been a motivation for him.

In addition, Maxwell rightly observed, over the method of the senescence in the desert, Moses' control improved. He cited Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, as one subject who helped to construct that deviation in his life.

Moses further accomplished something else that was not explicitly stated in scripture. D.A. Hubbard, in his article on the Pentateuch said that both Judaism and Christianity public without inquiring the biblical tradition that Moses wrote the Pentateuch.8 These writings had been abundant materials not ethical for spiritual aim on the contrary besides for academic purpose.

Paul

a) His vitality chronicle before his call to leadership

According to Circumstance 21:39;22:3, Paul was a native of Tarsus, a conurbation of Cilicia. He was of pure Jewish descent and of the tribe of Benjamin (Phil 3:5). He was a Hebrew and a Pharisee. He spoke Greek and was close with Aramaic (Acts 22:2). Paul, learned tent moulding since it was morals that all Jewish boys gain a trade.

In his book, 'Paul the Leader', Oswald J. Sanders specious this observation about Paul: "all the formative second childhood were calculated, to prepare him to be an noted Pharisee and Rabbi cherish his worthy mentor Gamaliel".9 Paul studied under Gamaliel, a distinguished teacher of the rule and of the institution of Hillel. Sanders besides see that the college of Hillel embraced a broader and amassed liberal glimpse in education than that of Shammai - the other distinguished school.10 In addition, Sanders stated that unlike the institute of Shammai, the academy of Hillel was fascinated in Greek literature. In that school, Paul learned to utilize works of Gentile authors. He surpassed his fellow-students in both academic achievements and in earnestness for both Idol and the tradition of his fathers. He was nearly a member of the Sanhedrin, the supreme legal and civil court.11

b) His leadership role and achievements

Oswald Sanders, famous that Paul became a extravagant spiritual director when his love and brains were captured by Jesus.12 Such statements could not keep been untrue provided Paul had not false good achievements in the role Holy spirit gave him to perform. Another writer, Ted E. Engstrom gave the background to Paul's success: "a Israelite living in a Greek city, and with a Roman citizenship. Both by birth and knowledge Paul possessed the fastness of the Jews, the culture of the Greeks and the practicality of the Romans, and these qualities enabled him to change to the clan among whom he was to move"13. According to Acts Leaf 9, when Paul encountered the Lord Jesus he was commissioned to receive the gospel note to the gentiles. Records of Paul's accomplishments of his commission can be constitute in Acts Chapters 13-28. These included missionary journeys to gentile territories, Church planting, participation or teaching ministries among the gentiles and fortuitous debates with secular philosophers.

In appendix Paul further wrote thirteen of the Original Will Epistles. In these epistles he dealt with essential holy concepts allied justification, sanctification and the resurrection of Christ. Manifold portions of defence of the Christian faith against secular philosophies are again included in these epistles. According to 2Tim. 4:7, Paul was certain he accomplished God's assignment for his activity when he stated that he has fought the deluxe fight, finished the relay and kept the faith.

B. LEADERS WHO WERE MENTORED BY THEIR PREDECESSOR

The moment categories of leaders to be examined are those who were mentored by their predecessor. Among such leaders are Joshua, who succeeded Moses and Samuel, who succeeded Eli. These two leaders will be examined individually in this section.

Joshua

a) His lifetime story before his call to leadership

The Bible gave a miniature family background of Joshua in Exodus 33:11; Num. 1:10. He was the son of Nun, the son of Elishama, belief of the tribe of Ephraim. Apart from this background, there is no other erudition about him before he met Moses. The scriptures gave yet seat to Joshua's mentoring contact with Moses. This rapid working alliance between them can be traced in scripture.

According to exodus 24:13, when Moses went up Sinai to assume the two tablets for the front generation Joshua accompanied him cut of the plan and was the anterior to apt him on his repay (32:17). Very when the Israelites sinned by worshiping the golden calf, Moses moved the tabernacle absent the camp and left the collection in charge of Joshua. In addition, Joshua was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan. It was sole after about forty caducity of mentoring by Moses in the waste that Infinite spirit directed Moses to come across Joshua leadership administration over the people.

In his book, 'Leadership Images from the Latest Testament', David Bennett mentioned four steps in developing a doyen from the ideal of Jesus. These are:

a) To age leaders who retain learned to spring from
b) To train within the condition of personal apprenticeship.
c) To constitute commitment to the regional as able-bodied as practice for a task.
d) To stress on the spiritual aspects of leadership.14

These four steps can be begin in the almost forty age mentoring affair between Moses and Joshua. As Engstrom rightly puts it "Moses had the go attitude, when he knew it was epoch to train someone else for leadership. He was fearful of vitality a paternal boss and pleaded with God to accord the Jew a successor".15 This might chalk up been one of the reasons why he devoted himself to mentor Joshua.

b) His leadership role and achievements

Joshua's role was mythical autonomous to him when he was commissioned as the bellwether of Israel. His call and commission was mediated down Moses. In Numbers 27:12-22 the Lord reminded Moses that he would not enter the promise Land and that Joshua would modify him. Moses obeyed the Lord's directions and commissioned Joshua before the integral Israelite assembly. This commission kept Joshua in heart throughout his errand and he kept his faith in the one who called him. As Donald K. Campbell rightly observed, Joshua interceded for the sovereign state when the Israelites sinned and were defeated.16 God's bidding was that Joshua would edge the Israelites to the Promise Land and he depended on him to accomplish that mandate. Commenting on the charge inured to Joshua to be beefy and brave in Josh. 1:6, Campbell and said it was an affirmation that God would not let Joshua down.17 But this may also be seen as an sign that prior to the continuance he became Israel's captain he had potentials, which he needed to frame up in leadership.

Details of how Joshua accomplished his commission get been recorded in the jotter of Joshua. The conquest of Canaan was nevertheless not an clear one however Joshua's familiarity as a military bigwig and his subordination upon God gave him added advantage. He fictional mistakes on the other hand he learned from his mistakes.

Samuel

a) His esprit account before his call to leadership

According to John C. Maxwell, Samuel was best from the eternity he was born owing to he was an transmit to prayer. He very commented that, as adolescent child, Samuel was placed in the anguish of Eli the Big priest and Court of Israel.18 This revealed that the mentoring consanguinity between Eli and Samuel started fully early in Samuel's life. Cognate Joshua, Samuel stayed in the corresponding lay with his mentor. In addition, at a genuine early age, God began to disclose directly to him and that motivated him to reverence and serve God faithfully. The role played by Hannah in initiating this mentoring correlation should not be overlooked. McChesney and Unger said that it was a promise that Hannah fabricated to dedicate Samuel to the Lord as a Nazarite.19

b) His Leadership Role and Achievements

To higher quality be aware and give thanks Samuel's achievements, one should ahead see the religious, political and social situations prior to his assumption to leadership. Eugene H, Merrill rightly observed that "the 300 or so oldness of the legend of Israel under the Judges were signal by political, moral, and spiritual anarchy and deterioration". It was in this background, where all seemed to hog failed that Samuel was groomed and also took up leadership.20

With reference to his achievements, "Samuel's akin of faculty with the nation continued to boost throughout his lifetime. As a prophet, he was respected thanks to he spoke from God. But in age Samuel also became Israel's Judge, a position collateral to that of a king. He was the nation's civil and military leader. Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life".21 Indeed, individual leaders with decided qualities can deliver what Samuel achieved. It was that considerate of exceptional leadership that God was looking for in assortment to superscription the deteriorating latitude in Israel. Israel enjoyed a era of tranquillity during Samuel's reign.

C. LEADERS WHO ASSUME LEADERSHIP AS A Creature OF A CRISIS

During the extension between the dying of Joshua and the commencement of Samuel's leadership, lousy with humans ruled Israel as Judges. All of them came to leadership as a by-product of a crisis need. Gideon and Samson were two of the Judges who ruled Israel at that time. They will be examined in this section, as representatives of the Judges, to decide if they were prepared for their leadership roles.

Gideon

a) His dash version before his call to leadership

In Judges sheet 6-8 the Bible gave a minor historic story of Gideon's family background. He was the son of Joash the Abiezrite. He was also of the tribe of Manasseh. One may craving to propose that Gideon had no condition or plausible for leadership before he became a leader. This assumption is proved askew in the brilliance of the angel's greetings to Gideon - "mighty workman of valor" (Judg. 6:12). As Joyce Peel rightly said, "the angel calls outside his eclipsed qualities which we detect developing in the rest of the story".22

It can be seen that Gideon already had faith in God from a feeler he asked the angel - where are all the wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, "Did not the lord bring us up gone of Egypt?" His parents carry make-believe him image that in the bygone they accept depended on God for survival. However, Gideon wanted an assurance that it was the God of his fathers talking to him, so he asked God to confer him a letter (:17). Joyce Peel's memo on Gideon's invitation is that "it isn't for the category of memo an unbeliever asks to evade a test but for a indication to confirm to a disciple who is ready to obey".23 Gideon was satisfied that God was speaking to him and based on that point he responded to the call to fit the Midianite crisis.

b) His Leadership Role and Achievements

Gideon was called to perform a specific role and that was to deliver Israel from the Midianites. He had a undarkened perceiving in head as to what he had to do. He also believed that he could accomplish his intention thanks to he had the assurance of God. In addition he had inner qualities, which gave him sufficiently courage to measure into action, all the more though he started at night. Gideon delivered the Israelites from the Midianites' oppression but he cardinal brought them back to faith in God. However, instantly after his demise the mankind turned back to their non-native gods.

Samson

a) His brio anecdote before his call to leadership

In Judges Phase 13-16 the Bible gave an narration of Samson's life. Samson was the son of Manoah of Zorah and of the tribe of Dan. His birth was foretold to his parents by an angel. They were also told that he would be a Nazarite to God from the womb Iudg. 13:2-5,24). The Bible also says in Judg 3:24-25 that God blessed him and that the spirit of God began to stir him up while he was in Mahaneh Dan. From this tally it can be observed that Samson was a adult of awe-inspiring strength. In Hebrews 11:32 he was recognized as of the bulky men of faith. During Samson's extent the philistines were suppressing the Israelites.

b) His leadership role and achievements

Samson's call and commission was mediated his parents. According to Judges 13:5 he was to begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the philistines. As John Mazwell rightly points out, "despite his acceptable start, Samson got himself into annoyance multiplied times, and in the boundary he finished poorly: he was weak, blind and enslaved by the enemy from whom he was supposed to deliver his people."24 Samson had the circumstance of fitting a pleasant chieftain but his despicable estimation destroyed his leadership.

Conclusion

Three categories of leaders hold been examined in this stage to prove that the bodies that God called to leadership in the Bible were always prepared for their tasks. The basic sort of leaders were those whose call came as a surprise to them. The second were those who were mentored by their predecessor and the third, were those who responded to a crisis. It was proved that all of these leaders had some formation of preparation decisive for their specific calling. These preparations may come from God, their parents, devout background, formal education or a mentor. Thence one could conclude that God does not call any male to leadership who had not been prepared. God's call or one preparation does not warrantly advance as the preparation for capable leadership does not cusp with one's call.

END NOTES

1 Eims Leroy, Be The Counsellor You Were Meant To Be Illinois: Victor Books, 1982), pp 8-13

2 Gottfied Osei-Mensah, Wanted: Servant Leadership (Achimota: African Christian Press, 1990), pp 24-32

3 Howard F. Vos. Moses: The Distinct Unger's Bible Vocabulary (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1982), p 886.

4 John C. Maxwell, The 21 Most All-powerful Minutes In a Leader's Day: Revitalizing Your Spirit and Empowering your Leadership (Nashville: Thomas \nelson Publishers, 2000), p. 300.

5 John D. Hannah, Exodus: The Bible Training Commentary (Colorado: Chariot Victor Publishers, 1985), p 112.

6 Ibid, P 121.

7 Ted W. Engstrom, The Forging of A Christian Leader: How to establish state and human relations skills (Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976), P 29.

8 D.A. Hubbard, Pentateuch: The Advanced Bible Dictionary (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1982), p 903.

9 Oswald J. Sanders, Paul the Leader: A View for Christian Leadership Nowadays (Eastboume: Kingsway Book Ltd., 1982), pp 16/17.

10 Ibid, p 17

11 Ibid, p 19

12 Oswald J. Sanders, Spiritual Leadership (Chicago: Moody Press, 1980), p 40.

13 Ted E. Engstrom, The Manufacture of Christian Leader: How To Prosper Authority and Human Relations Skills (Zondervan Publishing House, 1976), p 20.

14 David W. Bennett, Leadership Images From The Cutting edge Testament: A Practical American man (Carlisle: OM Publishers, 1998), pp 33/4

15 Ted W. Engstrom, The Creation of a Christian Leader: How to establish polity and human relations skill (Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976), p 30

16 Donald K. Campbell, Joshua: The Bible Awareness Commentary (Colorado: Chariot Victor Publishing, 1984), p 326.

17 Ibid, P 328.

18 John C. Maxwell, The 21 Most Dynamic Minutes In A Leader's Day: Revitalize Your Spirit and empower Your Leadership (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982), p 67.

19 E. McChesney and Merrill F. Unger, Samuel: The Contemporary Unger's Bible Dictionary (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1982), P 1121.

20 Eugene H. Merrill, Samuel: The Bible Discernment commentary (Colorado: Chariot Victor Publishing, 1985), P 431.

21 John C. Maxwell, The 21 Most Competent Minute in a Leader's Day: Revitalize Your spirit and Empower Your Leadership (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000), p

22 Joyce Peel, A Travels ended The Antique Testament: The chronicle of God's bond with man. woman and the area (Oxford: The Reading Fellowship, 1993), p 60

23 Ibid, p 60